Automatic veneer drier



Jan. 5- 1,522,966

= L. e. MERRITT AUTOMATIC VENEER DRIER Filed y 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 pnvamon ATTORNEY I G. MERRITT AUTOMATIC VENEER DRIER Filed u y 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Jan, 13.

L. G. MERRITT AUTOMATIC VENEER DRIER Filed y 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet m .MMR.

a INVENTQR I BY 1 a a W ATTORNEIY Patented Jan. 13, 1925.

UNITED STATES LOUIS G. MERRI'IT, OF LOCKPORT, NEW YORK.

AUTGMATIO VENEER DRIER.

Application filed July 9, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LoUIs G. Mnnnrrr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lockport, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Veneer Driers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to drying apparatus, and more particularly in some of its details to such apparatus for drying veneer or similar material.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus of the class men tioned adapted to receivesheets of veneer or similar material for drying, and to automatically and periodically subject alternate layers of the same to pressure and heat and to automatically release said pressure at intervals so as to prevent checking or splitting of the veneer.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of the class mentioned having improved means for automatically and periodically applying and removing pressure from the veneer or other material subjected to treatment.

Another object is to provide a drying machine of the class mentioned with improved means for mounting the drying platens thereof for reciprocation.

Still another object is to provide an improved drying apparatus of the class mentioned of simple and durable construction, functioning advantageously to dry material such as veneer or the like'without injury thereto, and with material saving in time and labor.

Other objects will be in part obvious in connection with the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention and will be in part pointed out in connection therewith.

In the accompanying drawing wherein an illustrative drawing for a detailed description but preferred embodiment of the invention is shown,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the veneer drying apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof;

Serial No. 483,413.

Fig.3 is a detailed enlarged fragmentary view showing the method of mounting the platens for oscillation; and

Fig. l is a fragmentary sectional plan showing the connection of the posts to the rocker.

Referring now to the drawing for a detailed description, the drying machine comprises a series of superposed platens l having spaces therebetween and arranged to be supported by posts 2 and 3, the latter being arranged in spaced pairs at opposite sides of the platens, and the whole being supported upon a base including spaced I- beams l connected by tie rods 5. Each of the platens is provided with laterally extending lugs 6, preferably integral therewith, adapted to engage on seats provided by the integral webs 7 formed on the posts. As shown in Fig. 3, the posts are preferably of integral cast construction and comprise side members 8- connected by the Webs 7 providing openings above and below for the reception of the lugs, while stiffening webs 9 are provided adjacent the openings extending between the side members 8. The posts are provided with lower terminal formations 10 for supporting the same and connecting them to operating mechanism. Suitable cover plates 11 may be secured to the outer faces of the posts so as to present a finished appearance and to exclude dust, &C. 7

Any desired number of superposed platens spaced apart may be employed, and, as shown in Fig. 3, alternate platens, as A, are connected by lugs 6 to the posts 2 of each pair, while the other alternate platens, as B, are similarly connected to posts As shown in Fig. 1, the posts 2 are connected by tie-bars 12 secured to the posts, while the posts 3 are similarly connected by tie-bars 13. It will therefore be seen that all of the posts connected to the A series of platens are secured together, while all of the posts of the B series are similarly secured together, constituting two separate frames on each side of the machine. The frames at opposite sides are cross connected at the top by cross channels 14, thus forming two platen frames or units, one carrying the A-series of platens and the other carrying lllll the B-series, the units being movable relatively to each other, as will be more fully pointed out. 7

Links 14: are pivotally connected to posts of the "res'pecti've platen frames, as shown in Fig. 1, Soastoguidethe relativemov'ement between the two frames. vided between adjacent platens for='receiving the veneer, the spaces immediately above the A platens constituting one'series or set, and those immediately above the B platens constituting another series. The platens are preferably metallic and hollow, asshown; to receive -steam or' other heat "conveying medium. ""Eaclnplaten' is preferably constructed in apluraljity ofsections th'cedges of wh-iclrare provided with complementary inter-engaging "projections and grooves as shown at 15, and-lugs"15 at the lateral edges thereof arieprovided for receiving bolts 16 "-for uniting the sections to make up the "'con'iplete platen. "Each' end edge of the platens is provided with ashield and gui'dingqblate 17 secured thereto and having opposite inclined surfaces for-"defleeting the veneer into the veneerieceivin'g spaces between the adjacent platens, thus aiding in loading tl1e'-venee1"'i1'1to the'machine. j

' Suitable piping is'e'nip'loyed foreonvey-ing the steam to the interior of the platens, and, as shown in 'Figs. 1 and '2, two networks of piping are employed, one, asl8,being connected toconvey steam to one set of moving platens,and the other,'as 19, beingsiinila'rly connected j to the" "other set of mo'i' i ig platens. This piping isconnected by'headersBO and 21 sojastoc'onvey steam-equall to all the pipes. The networks of piping described are arranged at opposite sides'of the platen units, those onone "side" receiving the live steam for the. respective units while those on the other side 'are'fo'r exhaust or"drainage therefrom.

The lower ends of the posts are connected to transverse shafts 22 supported on the I- beams & by journal boxes or bearings 28 bolted thereto, each of these shaft extending below the lower ends of 'opposite'pairs of posts. A collar 2% is secured on each shaft'adjace'nt each'end thereof being formed to provide an enlarged journal bearing operating in the. journal box 23 to support the platens and the load thereon.

These collars are also p'rovided with pins 25 and 26 suitably secured thereto and disposed on opposite sides of the center line; of

the shaft. Thesepins extend through the lower ternnnals of'the respective posts as shown in Fig. 4. The outer ends of the pins 25 and 26'also extend through and are connected to a crankplate orro'cker 27" having upwardly and downwardly extending Spaces are "pro-' posed adjacent the lower ends of each pair of posts at both sides of the machine.

An operating shaft 28 extends across the machine, being mounted in suitable bearings 28 on the I-beams l, and each end' thereof ismounted adouble ended'rocker arm 29 pivotally connected at'its upper end to a link connection- -30 'andwat its lower end in a similar link connection 31, each link being pivotallyconnected respectively with the upper and lower crank arms of the crank plates 27--as"shown-inFigs. 1 and 3. Bolted to the rocker arm 29 is a crank lever 32.and pivotally connected 'to the upper extremity (of the" latter 'i'sa' aitin'an bar 733 pivotally c'onnectedat its oppositeend to. the. slide34 of airadjustable crank "arm- 35.l It will be understo odthatthe construction just described for Loscillating" the platens is" duplicated at opposite sides of the machine so that operat- 7 ing and load .s'tressesfare equalized, and warping, unduefriction'and wearareavoided. 7 The p'itinen 33iare eonnectecr for reciprocation to-the cranksigo mounted atopposite ends of atra nsverse shaftl36 supported by the I beams 4rand connectedforcontinuous rotation to a motor 37 througlrsuijtable reduction'tgearing 3'8. It is to be noted that the motor is "mounted beneath one end of the inachine'so-as to be out of the way while being protectecl'and conveniently accessible for repa1rs,"anfd' operat ng "torque is transmittedeqtiallyto the operating mechanism' served that the" lower ternrinalsof the posts of each pair are connected"at'.pointsequidistant-from the center of supporting shafts 22,the series of platens with load and attachments being thus balanced against the B"se'ries,' so'that under normal conditions very little power is required for moving the platens from onev position to another.; How

ever, when u'pward inoveinent of one series Even with the machine heavily "loadedfwitlr veneer, this lifting of one series of platens occurs over "a relativelyshort period of time and the power; consumed is not great.

The details of construction having been pointed out, a cycle in the operation of; the

machine is' substantially as follows:

The parts being in the positionsshown in Fig. 1, all of thefspa'ces between the platens of 'thefAiseries and the-platens of the B se- 7 ries-are'loaded with veneer or the like'by insertion atthe "ends of the machine or one set of series of spaces may be loaded whilethe opposite-set is closed, 'thusgiving more room for loading. In the latter case thesecond series of spaces will beloadedafter tlieplatens are reversed by starting the operating mechanism and stopping the same as soon as the spaces are opened. Steam having been admitted to the platens, and both sets of spaces loaded, the mot-0r 37 is started, where upon the platens of one series, say, the A series, are carried upwardly by upward movement of posts 2 caused by clockwise rotation of the crank plates 27, as viewed in Fig. 1. At the same time the platens of the B series are lowered closing the spaces immediately above the A platens or diminishing the size thereof. The upwardly moving platens soon contact through the veneer carried on their upper surfaces with the lower surfaces of the lowering platens, lifting the latter from their post seats 7 supporting the lugs 6 of the platens. The vertical dimensions of the openings in the post above the web 7 are sufficient to permit considerable upward movement of the platens.

This action transfers the weight of the lifted platens from their trunnions to the veneer supported on the platens immeoliately below. During this period the veneer in one series of spaces is subjected to drying heat from platens above and below, and at the same time pressure is applied by the weight of the platens carried thereon, preventing warping. This condition must not continue too long, however, or else checking or splitting of the veneer would ensue due to pressure on the veneer when shrinkage begins to take place. The continued operation of the motor, however, soon relieves the pressure on the veneer in one series of spaces and transfers it to the veneer in the other set or series of spaces, the B series in this case rising and the A series lowering, as will be obvious. As this reversal of the platens takes place, the spaces in which heat and pressure have just been applied increase in volume causing air to rush in and circulate around the veneer and permitting the vapor and moisture to escape. Vhen the platens again move together the air and vapor are expelled. The automatic continuance of this cycle gives rise to a breathing effect, cause ing a rapid drying in a satisfactory manner without resultant splitting or warping of the veneer and without other injurious effect thereupon.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a veneer drying apparatus, in combination, a plurality of platens, means for connecting said platens to form a plurality of relatively movable platen units with the platens arranged in alternate relationship forming two sets of spaces between adjacent platens for the reception of the veneer, automatic means for periodically raising and lowering said units .7 to alternately subjectt-he veneer in each of the series of spaces to pressure and subsequently to relieve the same, and means arranged in said connecting means to allow individual adjustment of the platens of each unitin their supports to compensate for varying thicknesses of veneer in the spaces.

2. In a veneer drying apparatus, in combination, aplurality of platens, means for connecting said platens to form a plurality of relatively movable platen units with their platens arranged in alternate relationship, rotary bearings for supporting said units adjacent opposite sides thereof, a motor driven shaft supported transversely of said units having crank arms secured at opposite ends thereof, means for connecting said crank arms and bearings at opposite sides of said units for vibrating the units in alternate relationship, and means for varying the amplitude of vibration of said units.

3. In a veneer drying apparatus, in combination, a plurality of platens, means for connecting said platens to form a plurality of relatively movable platen units with their platens arranged in alternate relationship providing two sets of spaces positioned between the adjacent platens for the reception of the material, rotary bearings for sup porting said units disposed adjacent opposite sides thereof, pivoted levers at opposite sides of said units, links connecting said levers to said bearings, a motor driven shaft sup ported transversely of said units having crank arms secured at opposite ends thereof, means for connecting said crank arms and levers at opposite sides of said units for vibrating the units in alternate relationship, and mean for varying the amplitude of vibration of said units.

4. In a veneer drying apparatus, in com: bination, a plurality of platens, means for connecting said platens to form a plurality of relatively movable platen units with their platens arranged in alternate relationship providing two sets of spaces between adja cent platens for the reception of the material, rotary bearings for supporting said units disposed at opposite sides thereof, pivoted levers at opposite sides of said units,

=l-inks'connecting said levels to said bearings, 111621118 forvoperating"-saiol'rlevers :for vibrating said units 'to eifect I'alternate pressure on the material in each set roflsp'a'ces, land means for varying the amplitudeof vibration of said units.

5." In a veneer-drying zapparatus, in COIll- 'bination, aplurality of; superposed:platens,

means for connecting said platens to form I 7 other platen unitto cause the platens thereof to press "the veneer in the"otherPs-etpfispaces against 'the platens of isaidwone' pla'tenisunit, and means arranged in said" connecting means: to allow-individual 1 adjustment ofl the p'latensof each-unit in iSIIQiF'SLlPPO'ItS tO (30mpe'nsate for varying thicknesses of veneerin the spaces. p

6. In a ven'eer drying apparatus, in co1n bination'," a pluralit 'of superposed' platens, means for eonnecting said platens totonm two relati-vely movable platen' units-," tWO sets of veneer' receiving spaces being i thus 1 providedwbetweenadj a'cent platens of i the two platen units, automatic means "for anoving one platen unit to 2 cause i the platens thereof to intermittently: press the veneer in oneset of spaces against- 'thoplat-ens 'of the other platen unit, -sa id: automaticneans acting alternately also to intermittently unove said other platen unit to ca use the :platensthereof to press the vene'erin 'the other' set of spaces against the platens -'of said one-platen :unit, and mean's 'for intermittently and alternately relieving the pressure -on the veneerfin'both ofls'aid setsof-sp'aces and causing-thenair to circulate around -the treatednnateri'al; land means arranged :in said connecting mea nsrto allow individual adjustment oi the platens of each unit in their 1 supp'ortsito i compensate for varying thicknesses ot" veneer in the spaces. 7

a 7 In aveneer drying apparatus, :in combi-nation, a pluraiitybf superposed :platens, means for connecting said platens to "form two relatii ely IDOVHbIG PlJ EQII unitsytwo sets of veneer receiving spaces being thus -provided I between adjacent platens: of the two platen units, bea-rings forsupporting:.said

. platen: :units ad-jacent eopposite i sides thereof, 7

:cra-nlcarms operative'ly connected to said bearings, cpltnian harsaxoonnected .to ZSfiJld "crank-:arms, andxmeans': to oscillate said wpitman ebarsl 'EEOI .au'tomatioa l;ly and zrinterinittweenrsaidtdriving shafts-and each-. of saiddrivingrconnections. v

9.11m a veneer 'dry-ing machine, in combinationy a plurality sot sets of w novable platens, connections for moving said platens disposed at oppositesides tliereof, a motor 'driven 'shaftx'extending transversely of said platens,: and driving connections v:between said shaft' andweach of said first mentioned connections. 7 p 7 V a 10. 'In a:veneer drying'machine,;.in coin- -bination,ta, plurality of 'inovably' :mou-nted z'drying aplatens'i connected I to dorm a. platen unit, a plurality of drying platens-mounted to :form a second platen unit (and wcoopenatiing with-said: movable platens,rotary-bearings 'zfor supporting-= said 1 movable platens disposed at EOPPOSitBsldGSl3l1I&Of, cpiVGteCl Levers at 1: opposite sides of s ai d units, links connecting :said -.-let-ers" to' said bearings, a motor I zdrivens shaft .1 extending transversely of i said platens, and -opemating cosnnections between -saichdriveiish'a ftl ande-ach of said pivoted ilQVBIS.

' 111. In-a i'dnymg app'aratus,1:in combination,

spaced; platens, hadj acent, supporting posts 7 

